-= Net2BBS Telnet Server =-
for Windows
Version 1.0
September 16, 2007
Copyright (c) 2001-2007 PC Micro
____________________________________________________________________________
Net2BBS is a small yet powerful console Windows Telnet Server which
is bundled as part of the freeware NetFoss FOSSIL driver package.
Net2BBS has the following features:
* Very small footprint, NET2BBS.EXE is about 5K in size.
* Very fast, Net2BBS is written entirly in MASM32 Assembler.
* Configurable Node support, up to 256 nodes.
* Logs IP's and HostNames of connections to screen and file.
* Allows defining an IP/hostname block list, using wildcards.
* Multimedia support: plays login.wav and logoff.wav if found.
* Semaphore support: refuses connections when semaphore file exists.
* A classic Console mode text interface.
Editing the NET22BBS.INI Configuration file
-------------------------------------------
Net2BBS needs to be configured before you can run it. This is done by
creating or editing a configuration file named NET2BBS.INI.
A NET2BBS.SAMPLE.INI is included in the distribution archive, which you
can rename or copy to NET2BBS.INI before you edit it.
You can edit the Net2BBS.INI file with a text editor, such as NotePad.
The NET2BBS.INI must be located in the same directory where NET2BBS.EXE
is located. Changes to NET2BBS.INI will not take effect until the next
time Net2BBS is started.
The Sample .INI file uses these settings:
[Settings]
Command=c:\netfoss\nf.bat /n*N /h*H c:\pcb\pcboard.bat *N
StartPath=c:\pcb\
Port=23
Nodes=256
StartNode=1
Debug=1
View=Normal
Log=net2bbs.log
Semaphore=wait.sem
KillList=kill.txt
KillMsg=You are not welcome here.
KillMsgFile=goaway.ans
Editor=notepad.exe
Resolve=1
ResolveMsg=Resolving your IP Address, One moment...
Here is what each line does:
[Settings] This line must appear above all other valid lines.
Any lines above this line will be treated as comments.
This line is required, as it defines a Settings group.
Command= The Command Line Net2BBS spawns each time a node is
assigned to an incoming telnet connection.
======================================================
Normally this will execute NF.BAT and a second batch
file for the BBS software. Both the Node number and
the TCP Socket Handle need to be passed on the command
line the spawned application, allowing it to take
control of the incoming TCP connection.
The following Macros are supported:
*N = The Node number Net2BBS assigned to this session
*H = The telnet Socket handle
*I = The users IP Address
StartPath= This is the directory that Net2BBS will change to
to before spawning the Command Line. You can use the
*N (Node Macro) in the Startpath which will be replaced
with the node number.
Port= The TCP/IP Port that Net2BBS will monitor for
incoming telnet connections. By default this will
be port 23, the Telnet port. Some ISP's block port
23 from incoming connections, in which case you can
define a non-standard port here.
Nodes= The maximum number of simultaneous connections allowed
to be active. By default this will be 256 which is the
maximum value that Net2BBS currently supports. You can
define any value from 1 to 256.
StartNode= The Starting Node number created by Net2BBS. This could
be handy if you use specific nodes for Telnet, and other
nodes for dialup. For example you could define Nodes=5
and StartNode=10, to have Net2BBS only assign nodes 10
thru 14.
Debug= A logical flag (either 0 or 1), to disable or enable
debug mode. When debug mode is 1 (enabled), some extra
information is displayed on the screen. By default
debug mode is disabled.
View= The Window view setting for new connections when a
node is started. Valid options are:
Normal - The Window is visable
Minimized - The Window is Minimized
Maximize - The Window is Maximized, to full text mode.
Hide - The Window can not be viewed locally.
Log= The Log file name (the path is optional). If you do not
want a log file, set this to Log=nul
Semaphore= The Semaphore filename (the path is optional).
Before Net2BBS assigns an incoming connection to
a node, it checks to make sure that the Semaphore
file does not exist. If the file does exist, the
connection is refused due to a semaphore event.
If the Semaphore file contains any text, this will
be displayed to the connection before the user is
disconnected.
KillList= The Blocked IP Address & Hostname list filename.
This file should contain one IP Address or Hostname
to block per line, and wildcard characters ? and *
are fully supported. In order for Hostname blocking
to be effective, the Resolve Mode must be enabled.
KillMsg= A line of text to display to the caller when their
IP Address or hostname made a wildcard match with
one of the lines within the KillList file.
KillMsgFile= A text file to display to the caller instead of any
defined KillMsg line, if the KillMsgFile exists.
Editor= The name of the Text editor that will be used to
edit the KillList file. The Path is optional.
Resolve= A logical flag (0 or 1). When enabled (1), Net2BBS
will attempt to resolve the callers IP Address to a
hostname or domain name. Enabling Resolve mode can
cause users to experience a short delay once they
connect, while their IP is resolved.
ResolveMsg= A line of text to display to the caller while their
IP address is being resolved. It is erased as soon
as the Resolve completes. ANSi characters can be used,
as long as the first character after = is not an ESC,
and no more then 128 characters are used.
The only line you need to adjust in Net2BBS.INI is the "Command="
line. This needs to run NetFoss and your BBS software, passing the
Node Number using the *N macro, and passing the Socket Handle using
the *H macro. The *I macro can be used to pass the callers IP Address.
Refer to the example BBS configurations listed in NETFOSS.TXT for
examples of how the "Command=" line should appear for your BBS software.
Using Net2BBS
-------------
Net2BBS runs as a Console mode application, which displays all the
IP connections and disconnections made.
Pressing [E] will edit the KillList, which is a list of blocked IP
and/or HostNames to refuse access to. When editing the KillList file
the changes will become active as soon as the file is saved.
Pressing the ESC key twice will exit Net2BBS, and will shut down any
active telnet connections.
Customizing the Net2BBS Console interface
-----------------------------------------
You can adjust the Height/Width layout of the main Net2BBS Console
window using either of the following methods:
* Method 1: Ajust the properties settings of the Net2BBS.exe or
it's shortcut by right clicking the Net2BBS icon or shortcut
and choose Properties > Layout to select a new Height or Width.
You can further customize the look under the Font and Color tabs.
* Method 2: You can run Net2BBS.exe from a batch file which first
uses the mode command to set a new Height (defined in lines):
mode con lines=25
The Console can be hidden or moved to the System Tray by installing
a third party tray manager tool such as TrayIt (freeware).
You can download TrayIt from http://www.teamcti.com/trayit/trayit.htm
You can define a custom Icon to use with the Net2BBS Console, by
creating a shortcut to NET2BBS.EXE, then right click the shortcut
and choose Properties > Shortcut > Change Icon.
Net2BBS does not accept any command line parameters, as it gets all
it's settings by reading the Net2BBS.INI.
____________________________________________________________________________
License and Disclaimer
----------------------
Net2BBS is provided free of charge, without any warranty whatsoever.
Use Net2BBS entirely at your own risk. In no event will PC Micro,
or its agents be liable for any damages, including loss of profits or
other consequential damages arising from the use or inability to use
Net2BBS.
You may bundle NetFoss (including Net2BBS) with your own BBS software
or telnet server only as outlined in the NetFoss License included with
NETFOSS.TXT.
Net2BBS is a trademark of PC Micro Systems, Inc.
NetFoss is a trademark of PC Micro Systems, Inc.
PC Micro is a trademark of PC Micro Systens, Inc.
Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Other products mentioned are properties of their respected authors.
____________________________________________________________________________
For more information about using Net2BBS with NetFoss, please view
the included NetFoss.txt document, or visit the NetFoss web site at
http://netfoss.com.
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